Just Another Day

Very few of the older cubs slept well and many were up and stirring before their parents rolled out of their nests. As with all kurach celebrations, there was a hearty feast prepared for the day of fun and relaxing. Or as relaxing as the summer games ever were. There were a multitude of races, wrestling matches, and throwing contests to be had, and of course the festival's namesake had been grown around the fair grounds to create a colorful and sweet-scented day. The cubs that were trying to impress a master and land a good apprenticeship had numbers pinned to their hips.

"Explain to me again how this is relevant for picking out apprentices for the fancy mental stuff like healing?" Shanku asked skeptically as she lined up at the starting line.

"These games test the three basics of speed, strength, and skill. For healers, that would be tending to their patient quickly, ability to move a compromised patient, and having steady hands for more delicate work," Rachit explained. "Since my goal is delicate chest work, my performance in the throwing part will depend more on speed and aim rather than how hard I can chunk anything."

"Interesting appraisal system, especially since they have all of us lumped in together," Shanku mused. "I still intend to be your first customer, so you better ace this."

"I intend to, even without the incentive," Rachit laughed. "But's let's see how the daughter of the fastest runner in the clan fares, eh?"

"Oh, c'mon, dude, I'm under enough pressure as is!" Shanku groaned.

"The future guard of my exported wares had better do well," Rachit said with a wink before the signal was given to start.

The first race was a simple sprint of a half furlong to gauge who were the quickest on their feet. Shanku did manage to place in the top ten by tying with another cub, but that didn't mean much since there were only twenty-five cubs competing.

"I expected better from you," Jagan remarked.

"Still beat your ass, didn't I?" Shanku replied back with a devilish grin.

"I'll be sure to put in a good word on your little traveling grunt idea just to get you out of my sight," Jagan laughed.

"Sounds good to me, thanks," Shanku grinned and Jagan chuckled. Ina came straggling in with the last group.

"Oh, my!" Ina panted. "I'm not cut out for this."

"Hang in there, we still have to do the endurance run," Shanku said encouragingly.

"Don't tell me that!" Ina shuddered.

"How can we tour the world if you can't do the endurance run?" Shanku asked.

"Ah, point. I better get into shape!" Ina replied and marched up to the second starting line. "May even have to join you warriors a few times a week before we go."